Thursday, May 26, 2011

Bonjour Happiness

Jamie was recently injured in her car (by a possibly texting driver) but she reminded us, "You can still have joi de vie whilst hobbling around in a leg cast". Jamie is nothing if not an optimist.

The French have recently adopted the cheesecake as a favorite dessert.

But they've always had the best 'cheesecake' of all - matching lingerie. Jamie says"your lingerie MUST match and be frilly' or just furgettaboutit if you wanna find your inner French girl.

Jamie proceeded

to do the 'French' scarf demo

For us.

There was a REAL French girl present to concur with Jamies' scarf instructions."DO NOT ever wear your scarf the way the sales guy in the street shows you"Non JAMAIS!"Wrong, wrong, wrong. French Girl agreed.

Jamie says, "French people do not have an expression for 'the pursuit of happiness'."They do not chase after it. Rather they take things slowly. Jamie says, "You must cultivate your own 'secret garden'. That place where you can refresh your senses and recoup. Jamie says, "Learn the Galic shrug when presented with a difficult situation.Simply shrug your shoulders casually, "C'est la vie." Bien sur there were macarons on hand (merciMad Mac).

I asked Jamie what she thought of French men, since the DSK episode. Jamie said, "That's in the next book."

30 comments:

"Bonjour, Happiness" is a fantastic book and Jamie is a wonderful, inspiring force of nature. I was lucky enough to take a writing course from her in Auvillar last September, and learned so much from her (some of it was even about writing!!)

I wish I could have been there to learn more from her and to meet you, too!

Merci beaucoup for the wonderful blog post, Carol!!! I am so honored to be a part of the Paris Breakfasts!! Your blog gives me a lift every morning and inspires me to continually channel my inner French girl (not to mention to enjoy delicious pastry!) Ah, you offer the world so much happiness, so much joie de vivre!! And to Paris Breakfast readers--if you blog and would like to write about Bonjour, Happiness! Please let me know and I'll send you free review copy. Merci and love, Jamie

La Joie de Vivre – it is true that I find it is easier to have it in France than in the US as the culture is different. I’ll put this book on my list. I read all the posts that I had missed on your blogs. So many luscious cakes! I like the French chocolate cakes, with Grand Marnier. Here I think they are too sweet and not creamy enough. While in Paris I went back to look at the office where I worked before coming to the US in the 60s – it was rue Lincoln at the corner with the Champs-Elysées. There used to be a café near my office at this corner where I would take a café crème in the morning. I was surprised that it had been replaced now with the Ladurée place (which looks old but can’t be) I went inside and bought some macarons but I did not like them as much as the cakes. I enjoyed your pictures of Venice – you have a good eye for the interesting shot.

This is so fabulous. So fun and delicious and just heavenly!I love how you put these exquisite and rich and imaginativelayers of color and sweetness (with the occasional tarty twist)together to form visual French pastry!

Loved the study of at the top of Financiers Pastries 2 and today's, but the next picture below, of the champagne being poured, made me wonder whether you have done any pictures on a champagne theme, perhaps the Perrier Jouet bottle, or another of some other fashionable champagne house?

I have said this before, the new watercolors with lots of pastries are just beautiful. I am imagining one in my kitchen as soon as I get some $ in my pocket!!! I checked your Etsy store but they are not there yet?!I loved the reading suggestion, I need that book now.PS: did she show her lingerie, too? I love LOVE scarves!!! Have a big drawer full of them!Have a great day Carol!

Oh, Carol, I feel out of it...what was the DSK episode, please excuse my ignorance. I am loving the pastry grouping watercolors...they make me hungry. And thank you for introducing us to Jamie and her book...what perfect fun it all looked...I would love to blog about Jamie's book, but I haven't posted in a while...maybe all I need is some "Bonjour Happiness"!!

Jenny:D.S.K. referrs to Dominique Strauss- Kahn, the very naughty Frenchman currently under house arrest till trial for doing who-knows-what exactly to a New York hotel cleaner, but his history of misbehavior towards women is legend (or so they say).

There is a lot of reasoning in her perspectives as well as that of French Women Don't Get Fat books. If you don't feel you look good you won't feel as good and that's down to the undies. A few too many cheesecakes might do that to you too.

For days now I have been thinking about your advice to talk to strangers. And I notice how people just don't do it anymore. I"m now making a concerted effort to do so. And I'll feel more french doing it!

PARIS in yr Mailbox!

♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5 and I'm still at it. Now I live by the Seine on l'Ile Saint-Louis. Do consider subscribing to my Paris letters and maps on Etsy and enjoy a taste of Paris in your mailbox every month to savor with a hot chocolate and croissant. I paint Paris dreams.